Veteran actor Manjula Vijayakumar passed away in Chennai today

Manjula made her first screen appearance in the film, Shanthi Nilayam in 1969, in a supporting role, playing teenage daughter to Gemini Ganesan. Manjula has acted in over 100 films in Tamil, Telugu and Kannada.

Her first lead role was in Rickshakaran in 1971 in which she starred opposite MGR with whom she went on to act in a number of films. Until the late 70s Manjula was among the top heroines down South. Since the late 80s, she appeared in supporting roles in several films. Manjula has acted alongside Sivaji Ganesan, Gemini Ganesan, NTR, Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Shobhan Babu, Kamal Hassan, Vishnuvardhan and Rajinikanth.

She and actor Vijayakumar married shortly after they fell in love on the sets of Unnidam Mayanguhiren. The couple has three daughters, Vanitha, Preetha and Sridevi Vijaykumar.